I call this meeting to order.
This is the 27th meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. I'd like to remind members that today's meeting will be televised and made available via the House of Commons website.
Pursuant to the order of reference of March 25, 2021, and the motion adopted by this committee on Monday, November 16, 2020, the committee is resuming its study on the questions of conflict of interest and lobbying with regard to pandemic spending.
Specifically, for today, the House order stipulated the following:
Amitpal Singh, the Deputy Prime Minister's Policy Advisor, be ordered to appear before the committee on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.
However, colleagues, I will inform you that we have heard from the ministers that Amitpal Singh has been ordered—instructed—not to appear before our committee, so we find ourselves in a difficult situation of trying to determine what we should do today.
I should also inform members that Minister Fortier has offered to provide testimony and answer questions today. She hasn't been called by this committee, nor has the House ordered her to come, but she has offered.
I have a speakers list that is developing. I'd be looking for instruction from members of the committee to determine how to proceed today. We're going to begin with Monsieur Fortin, followed by Mr. Barrett and Madame Shanahan.
Monsieur Fortin, we'll turn to you.